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Wosret, Wasret, or Wosyet meaning the powerful was an Egyptian goddess with a cult centre at Thebes. She initially was a localised guardian deity, whose cult rose widely to prominence during the stable twelfth dynasty when three pharaohs were named as her sons, for example, Senwosret - the man (son) of Wosret, also spelled as Senusret.
She rarely was depicted, and no temples for her have been identified. One example of a depiction of Wosret is on the stela shown to the right where she is the figure farthest to the right.
When she was depicted, it was wearing a tall crown with the Was scepter upon her head, which was related to her name, and carrying other weapons such as spears as well as a bow and arrows.
The scepter upon her head was a symbol of power and dominion thought to be derived from cattle herding cultures that arose in Egypt during 8,000 B.C. [1] The staff may have depicted the penis bone of her son, the bull.
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The hieroglyph for the Was is displayed to the left. She later was superseded by Mut and became an aspect of Hathor. She also was identified with the protection of the deity Horus, Isis' son when he was young.
Some scholars identify her as an early counterpart to the deity Amun, who later was superseded by Mut. On the stela above Amun is depicted to the left.
References
Michael Jordan, Encyclopedia of Gods, Kyle Cathie Limited, 2002
see also
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